Participation In Social Networking Sites Research Articles

Effects of motivation to use social networking sites on students’ media literacy and critical thinking

Participation in social networking sites offers many potential benefits for university students. Online interaction on these sites provides various opportunities for them to learn and improve self-control, tolerate and respect the viewpoints of others, express emotions in healthy and orderly ways, and think and make decisions critically. These sites also provide them with a virtual space to execute time, form close connections with friends without being spatially restricted and provide space for young people’s self-development. However, the number of studies examining university students’ social networking sites, media literacy, and critical thinking is very limited in the literature. Therefore, this research examined the effects of motivation to use social networking sites on students’ media literacy and critical thinking. The research also examined the relationships between students’ motivation for using social networks, media literacy, and critical thinking. The data were collected using three data collection instruments. The participants were 211 university students enrolled at two universities in Bangkok, Thailand. The results showed significant positive correlations between motivation to use social networking sites, and critical thinking, that university students with better performance in information and learning show better performance in critical thinking and reflection skills. The results also showed remarkable positive correlations between motivation for using social networking sites and media literacy, indicating that university students with better performance in information and learning show better performance in multimedia messages and multimedia organization and analysis. In addition, the results also revealed positive correlations between critical thinking and media literacy. The implications are made based on the results obtained from this research.

Feminist Data Studies and the emergence of a new Data Feminist knowledge domain

Mass participation in social networking sites and online life combined with the development of tracking technology facilitates gathering data on unprecedented scales. The uptake of data collecting during the 2010s coincided with the emergence of data science and data studies, along with critical perspectives such as critical data and critical algorithm studies. This paper explores one such critical perspective. Data Feminism merges the theories of intersectional feminism and critical data studies. Bibliometric text analysis of articles, conference papers, essays, and commentary was conducted in VOSviewer software, which found commonalities between terms within texts. The most prominent terms and keywords in the research area of Data Feminism identified in such a manner informed the close reading that followed. Six clusters of terms were identified, with the two largest clusters formed around the terms “big data” and “artificial intelligence” respectively. We also explored the boundaries, movements and centralities within the six clusters.

Factors Contributing to English as a Foreign Language Learners’ Academic Burnout: An Investigation Through the Lens of Cultural Historical Activity Theory

During the shift from face-to-face to online emergency classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) were under constant pressure to familiarize themselves with the once-in-many-generations learning context. Based on the cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT), this qualitative study investigated factors contributing to EFL learners’ academic burnout at Open University, Vietnam. The interviewees were seven students, two teachers, and two administrators recruited using a theoretical-based sampling technique. The data consisted of iterative rounds of interviews which lasted approximately 60 min each until the data saturation point was reached. The content analysis revealed six factors that impacted EFL learners’ physical and psychological exhaustion, including prolonged online learning time, privacy concerns and cyber-bullying, teachers’ role, institution’s role, and support community outside the classroom. Also, teachers’ insufficient preparation for online teaching and students’ academic misconduct during exams were factors that created EFL learners’ academic cynicism. Finally, participation in social networking sites’ extracurricular activities, participation checking, and cheating in exams affected the last dimension of academic burnout, the sense of academic achievement. Based on this study, the authority, administrators, and teachers can take a more proactive role in supporting students in curbing their academic burnout during this unprecedented pandemic. The authors also hope that this study can lay the foundation for further humanistic research into the EFL learner’s psychological world in online classes, particularly when each student’s social and cultural background is considered.

Influence of social networking sites on life satisfaction among university students: a mediating role of social benefit and social overload

PurposeSocial media experience a rapid rise in recent years and steep into almost every aspect of people's lives by altering their lifestyles and creating an impact on their wellbeing. The purpose of the present study is to examine the influence of SNSs on life satisfaction among university students by first exploring what are the key gratifications which motivates them to engage in SNSs and then focusing on the psychological outcomes including social overload and social benefit from using SNSs that affects life satisfaction among the university students.Design/methodology/approachTheory of social influence and uses and gratifications theory were used in this study to examine the motivations for using SNSs, and the impact of psychological outcomes associated with SNSs usage, i.e. social benefit and social overload on life satisfaction among university students of Pakistan. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling is used to analyze the data.FindingsThe outcomes indicate that the need for maintaining interpersonal interconnectivity, entertainment value and social enhancement value derives the students' participation in social networking sites through which they encounter social benefit and social overload. The presence of social benefit enhances life satisfaction while social overload results in decreasing life satisfaction of students. Using social networking sites influences life satisfaction in the presence of social overload and social benefit while there is no direct influence of social networking sites on life satisfaction was evidenced.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study investigated the needs that drive the use of social media through the lens of UGT & Social influence approach. The other potential determinants of social media usage intention should be analyzed by employing variables of the other models.In this study social media was examined as a general platform used by the university students of Pakistan. In future researches the driving needs should be examined in the context of specific social networking sites.Practical implicationsThe presented findings embraces the implications for the authorities of higher education institutions and policy makers as it provides the useful insights about student 2019s motivations and participation behavior in SNSs which would help in developing strategies for desirable results.Social implicationsEducational institutions can utilize the research findings by incorporating social media tools in the academic system, student's interaction with their mentors will lead towards enhanced involvement of students and intellectual skills along with upgraded academic performance which will positively influence life satisfaction of the students.Originality/valueThe scarcity of findings was observed in the local environment specifically in the context of SNSs usage and well-being of the higher education students. This study addresses the motivational factors of SNSs usage and their psychological outcomes simultaneously and focused on the investigation of social media usage drivers and its outcomes among the university students of Pakistan.

‘I feel valued’: the experience of social networking site engagement among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in South Korea

Previous studies have shown that participation in social networking sites (SNSs) enhances users’ knowledge, social capital, and quality of life. However, people with intellectual developmental disabilities (PIDD) do not use SNSs to the same extent as the general population does. This study aimed to explore the experiences of those PIDD in South Korea who use social media. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 20 PIDD. The study participants reported benefits associated with the use of SNSs, which included enhanced social capital, self-confidence, and positive self-image. Participants also used SNSs to maintain friendships, initiate new relationships, and engage in self and community advocacy. Safety concerns were also reported by the participants. The study concluded that SNSs can be used as tools for promoting community inclusion and developing social capital for PIDD. However, the outcomes of using SNSs depend on the availability of support provided by one’s network. The absence of support may result in frustration and even exploitation. With effective support, SNSs become powerful tools that can be used by PIDD to combat social isolation through creating ample opportunities for social inclusion.

A Study of Networking and Information Exchange Factors Influencing User Participation in Niche Social Networking Sites

This article tests a number of networking and information exchange factors that may influence users' participation in niche social networking sites (SNS). The factors identified in the literature review as influential for participation in social networking sites were implemented in a model tested using quantitative data from 152 users. Gratifications related to socialising, self-status seeking, social support, and learning and innovativeness were identified as significant for participating in niche SNS. As only a subset of the general purpose SNS gratifications were found to be of statistical significance for niche sites, it is suggested that further research that includes a wider set of factors is necessary to determine the similarities and differences between gratifications influencing participation in general purpose and niche SNS.

A Privacy-Enhanced Friending Approach for Users on Multiple Online Social Networks

Online social network users share their information in different social sites to establish connections with individuals with whom they want to be a friend. While users share all their information to connect to other individuals, they need to hide the information that can bring about privacy risks for them. As user participation in social networking sites rises, the possibility of sharing information with unknown users increases, and the probability of privacy breaches for the user mounts. This work addresses the challenges of sharing information in a safe manner with unknown individuals. Currently, there are a number of available methods for preserving privacy in order to friending (the act of adding someone as a friend), but they only consider a single source of data and are more focused on users’ security rather than privacy. Consequently, a privacy-preserving friending mechanism should be considered for information shared in multiple online social network sites. In this paper, we propose a new privacy-preserving friending method that helps users decide what to share with other individuals with the reduced risk of being exploited or re-identified. In this regard, the first step is to calculate the sensitivity score for individuals using Bernstein’s polynomial theorem to understand what sort of information can influence a user’s privacy. Next, a new model is applied to anonymise the data of users who participate in multiple social networks. Anonymisation helps to understand to what extent a piece of information can be shared, which allows information sharing with reduced risks in privacy. Evaluation indicates that measuring the sensitivity of information besides anonymisation provides a more accurate outcome for the purpose of friending, in a computationally efficient manner.

Online Social Networks and Trust

We use Italian data from the Multipurpose Household Survey to explore how participation in social networking sites (SNS) such as Facebook and Twitter affects the most economically relevant aspect of social capital, trust. We account for measures of trust in strangers (often referred to as social trust), trust in neighbours (particularized trust) and trust in the police (institutional trust). We address endogeneity in the use of SNS by exploiting the variation in the availability of broadband for high-speed Internet, which relates to technological characteristics of the pre-existing voice telecommunication infrastructures. We find that all the forms of trust significantly decrease with participation in online networks. We discuss several interpretations of the results in light of the specific features of Internet-mediated social interaction.

Political Ideology and Municipal Size as Incentives for the Implementation and Governance Models of Web 2.0 in Providing Public Services

The growing participation in social networking sites is altering the nature of social relations and changing the nature of political and public dialogue. This paper aims to contribute to the current debate on Web 2.0 technologies and their implications for local governance, through the identification of the perceptions of policy makers in local governments on the use of Web 2.0 in providing public services (reasons, advantages and risks) and on the change of the roles that these technologies could provoke in interactions between local governments and their stakeholders (governance models). This paper also analyzes whether the municipal size is a main factor that could influence on the policy makers' perceptions regarding these main topics. Findings suggest that policy makers are willing to implement Web 2.0 technologies in providing public services, but preferably under the Bureaucratic model framework, thus retaining a leading role in this implementation. The municipal size is a factor that could influence on policy makers' perceptions.

The impact of the use of social networks on students in the development of educational achievement in the research material and sources of information for the secondary stage: أثر استخدام شبكات التواصل الاجتماعي على الطلاب في تنمية التحصيل الدراسي في مادة البحث ومصادر المعلومات للمرحلة الثانوية

The aim of the research is to find out the impact of social networks on students in the development of educational achievement in the research material and sources of information for the secondary stage. The in-depth interview was used as a research tool, a set of open-ended questions to guide interaction, as well as questionnaires to teachers to record their observations on the use of social networks to enhance the learning process. The research community was confined to secondary schools in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The sample consisted of 300 students from Madinah schools who were randomly selected. The results of the research showed the strength of the interaction of students with teachers and increase the proportion of their response through participation in social networking sites in addition to achieving high rates in the percentage of academic achievement in the research material and sources of information for the secondary stage. Where it became clear that social networking sites have achieved motivation to creativity, as students interact to excel and achieve higher ratios and grades better with teachers. The school also helped to keep up with the educational level of students along with the high contribution of social networks in helping teachers to touch the areas of student default in the subjects.

Leveraging Social Capital of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities through Participation on Facebook.

Participation in social networking sites has considerable potential to leverage the individual's social capital, including persons with intellectual disabilities, whose real-world social networks are fairly limited. This study aimed to understand how individuals with intellectual disabilities use Facebook to access social capital benefits, if at all. Qualitative interviews and observations were conducted with 20 adult Facebook users with intellectual disabilities. The online participation enhanced their bonding social capital as well as contributed to their psychological well-being through increasing their online visibility, popularity and sense of belonging. At the same time, they experienced stress and frustration due to usage difficulties, which prevented them from enhancing their bridging social capital. Participation in social networking sites may also leverage bridging social capital of persons with intellectual disabilities, but they need a more accessible platform and ongoing support to ensure safe and fruitful participation.

Engaging customers through online participation in social networking sites

Abstract Social networking is currently the most popular online activity among consumers worldwide. Today in business context, Social media is achieving increasing importance as a channel for consumer's online participation and engagement. Brands are developing its presence in social networking sites to meet engagement, brand awareness and word of mouth. In this context, the analysis of the factors that are conditioning consumer interaction with branded content becomes a matter of interest. To explore factors influencing consumer's online engagement in social networking sites (SNS), this study applies use and gratification (U&G) theory to explain why people are actively involved in media usage and interact highly with the communication media i.e., SNS. This study used an online as well as offline questionnaire to conduct empirical research, and collected and analyzed data of 394 samples by structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. The findings show that the U&G theory significantly explains consumers' attitude toward social networking ad (SNA). The result shows that the content characteristics of SNA i.e., vividness, interactivity, entertainment and information have direct influence on the consumers' online participation and engagement behavior whereas incentive doesn’t show any impact. On the other hand, when mediated by consumer's positive attitude toward SNA, vividness, interactivity, information and entertainment show partial mediation effect on the consumers' online participation and engagement behavior whereas incentive show full mediation effect. In addition, this study found that the social media users who have a positive attitude toward SNA are more likely to surf the Net and feel more engaged. This study empirically contributes to the existing literature on the management of marketing strategies for consumer engagement in social networking sites.

Governance Models for the Delivery of Public Services Through the Web 2.0 Technologies

The growing participation in social networking sites is altering the nature of social relations and changing the nature of political and public dialogue. This article contributes to the current debate on Web 2.0 technologies and their implications for local governance through the identification of governance models to be adopted by local governments if Web 2.0 technologies are implemented for providing public services. Also, this article analyzes whether the political competition could be an attribute that could explain the governance models to be adopted by municipalities. To achieve this aim, an e-survey during the period of May–July 2014 has been performed by policy makers responsible of strategies for e-government in Spanish municipalities. Findings indicate that policy makers are mainly prone to implement Web 2.0 technologies under the “Bureaucratic Model” framework, keeping the leading role in this implementation. Nonetheless, political competition seems to be essential to understand the findings of this article. Thus, majority governments are prone to implement collaborative models of governance, whereas minority governments are in favor to implement noncollaborative models of governance.

Reaction on Twitter to a Cluster of Perinatal Deaths: A Mixed Method Study.

BackgroundParticipation in social networking sites is commonplace and the micro-blogging site Twitter can be considered a platform for the rapid broadcasting of news stories.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the Twitter status updates and subsequent responses relating to a number of perinatal deaths which occurred in a small maternity unit in Ireland.MethodsAn analysis of Twitter status updates, over a two month period from January to March 2014, was undertaken to identify the key themes arising in relation to the perinatal deaths.ResultsOur search identified 3577 tweets relating to the reported perinatal deaths. At the height of the controversy, Twitter updates generated skepticism in relation to the management of not only of the unit in question, which was branded as unsafe, but also the governance of the entire Irish maternity service. Themes of concern and uncertainty arose whereby the professional motives of the obstetric community and staffing levels in the maternity services were called into question.ConclusionsTwitter activity provides a useful insight into attitudes towards health-related events. The role of the media in influencing opinion is well-documented and this study underscores the challenges that clinicians face in light of an obstetric media scandal. Further study to identify how the obstetric community could develop tools to utilize Twitter to disseminate valid health information could be beneficial.

Social networking sites and digital identity: The utility of provider‐adolescent communication

Social media has become a staple for American adolescents. Participation in social networking sites (SNSs) has gained immense popularity via platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Tumblr, and Vine. According to a Pew Research Center survey in 2015, 89% of teenagers reported using at least one social networking site, with 71% of adolescents reporting using more than one SNS. It is fair to say that, as a multibillion‐dollar industry, social media, in one form or another, will continue to be of interest to our adolescents and a part of our future. The goal of this article is to describe how providers may use discussions of SNSs to communicate with adolescents in care.

Pathways to Expressive and Collective Participation: Usage Patterns, Political Efficacy, and Political Participation in Social Networking Sites

This study assesses differences in use of social networking sites (SNSs) and relates them to different patterns of political participation, media use motivations, and political efficacy. Based on a Web survey of 1,230 South Korean voters, it finds that informational uses of SNSs are positively associated with expressive participation both online and offline, but not with collective participation. The use of SNSs for social interaction purposes was associated only with online expressive participation. Recreational uses had a negative or insignificant relationship with expressive and collective participation. Political efficacy moderated the impact of social interaction uses of SNSs on expressive participation both online and offline. The findings suggest that the political impact of SNSs is mostly limited to expressive participation and dependent upon users' motivations.

Research Note—Why Following Friends Can Hurt You: An Exploratory Investigation of the Effects of Envy on Social Networking Sites among College-Age Users

Research findings on how participation in social networking sites (SNSs) affects users’ subjective well-being are equivocal. Some studies suggest a positive impact of SNSs on users’ life satisfaction and mood, whereas others report undesirable consequences such as depressive symptoms and anxiety. However, whereas the factors behind the positive effects have received significant scholarly attention, little is known about the mechanisms that underlie the unfavorable consequences. To fill this gap, this study uses social comparison theory and the responses of 1,193 college-age Facebook users to investigate the role of envy in the SNS context as a potential contributor to those undesirable outcomes. Arising in response to social information consumption, envy is shown to be associated with reduced cognitive and affective well-being as well as increased reactive self-enhancement. These preliminary findings contribute to the growing body of information systems research investigating the dysfunctional consequences of information technology adoption in general and social media participation in particular.

Policy makers’ perceptions on the transformational effect of Web 2.0 technologies on public services delivery

The growing participation in social networking sites is altering the nature of social relations and changing the nature of political and public dialogue. This paper contributes to the current debate on Web 2.0 technologies and their implications for local governance, identifying the perceptions of policy makers on the use of Web 2.0 in providing public services and on the changing roles that could arise from the resulting interaction between local governments and their stakeholders. The results obtained suggest that policy makers are willing to implement Web 2.0 technologies in providing public services, but preferably under the Bureaucratic model framework, thus retaining a leading role in this implementation. The learning curve of local governments in the use of Web 2.0 technologies is a factor that could influence policy makers' perceptions. In this respect, many research gaps are identified and further study of the question is recommended.

Do social networking sites contribute for building brands? Evaluating the impact of users' participation on brand awareness and brand attitude

Social networking sites (SNSs) have attracted increasing attention from brands, which look at the platform as a privileged communication channel to reach their audiences. Despite their growing adoption, few research efforts have been devoted to evaluate SNSs' concrete implications for the brands. The current study addresses this opportunity, proposing a model that evaluates the impact of users' participation in SNSs on brand awareness and brand attitude, the two main pillars of brand knowledge. The study focuses on brand like pages in Facebook, the most used SNSs platform for brands. An online quantitative survey with brand like page users of leading brands in Facebook was implemented. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to estimate the measurement model and structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed research hypotheses. The results identify a significant, positive and direct impact of users' participation on brand awareness. Brand attitude also substantially benefits from users' participation, but this relationship is mediated by brand awareness. The findings help to validate SNSs' significant role on building brand knowledge and to position users' participation at the core of brands' SNSs objectives. Furthermore, the study provides a practical research framework, easily adapted for monitoring purposes and managerial guidance. Future research directions are discussed.

The Effect of Engagement in Online Social Network on Susceptibility to Influence

The effect of consumer participation in online social networking activities on their susceptibility to influence is investigated in a context of restaurant consumption. This research identified a positive relationship between consumers engagement in social networking sites (SNS) on their susceptibility to global consumption influence, which is a multidimensional factor consisting of conformity to trend, social prestige, and quality perception. Furthermore, consumer engagement in SNS and susceptibility to global consumption influence positively affect social influence on SNS. That is, consumers with higher participation in SNS are more prone to global consumer convergence and peer influence on SNS. As implications for tourism and hospitality businesses, strategies to manage consumer-to-consumer communication on social media are suggested.